Commenting ratio

Well, I have a problem in my mind when it comes to all this. I just can't let anything that looks like a challenge be. A ratio meter? I bet I can make it go red... I just can't help myself and every time I have to prove to myself that I can do it.

I am at 1.6 to 1. You may kiss my feet now
(giggles)

I'm about 1:3.1 but I don't have the excuse of reading my own stories skewing the results. The only time I read any of my own stories after they're posted is when: 1) I'm trying to do a sequel and need to check details from the prior story; or 2) someone makes a comment and I need to check what they're referring to. I read the first few stories I posted but I drove myself crazy second-guessing and critiquing what I'd written. So now, once they're posted they're done and forgotten; I can look at my Author list and some of the stories I couldn't tell you a thing about. A lot of them I didn't even keep a personal copy of so if this site every crashes they're just lost.

No, my not-as-good-as-it-should-be ratio is because I was a member for quite a while before I ever wrote a single comment. I'd select favorites but never write a comment. I finally started before I submitted my first story; since then I've tried to be a lot more active but I think I still have only made about 1,000 comments overall. That's nothing compared to some of the folks around here.

You have commented on 1.6 times more stories than you've read...?

As an author, I would rather receive just a few meaningful comments from those with whom my story really resonates rather than from readers who are just commenting to meet a requirement or who are trying to hit a statistical read/comment ratio.

I write for myself; comments are always welcome but just an added bonus.

That brings up an interesting issue which I wonder about every time I consider a story.

Should I read the comments?

For a start they can suggest whether the story might be a good one; the gross number is often an indicator of this (with the obvious exception of my own stories which are universally brilliant despite their obscurity).
However, comments contain spoilers. If I read them I'll know if the foolish protagonist gets spanked, so it's always a gamble.

Gasp! You're shocked to discover there are spankings happening in these stories?

Reminds me of the scene from "Casablanca" when Captain Renault shuts down Rick's casino because he's "shocked to discover that there is gambling going on." At that moment an employee hands him money and says "your winnings sir" which he then pockets and then continues closing down the club.

Sometimes the comments give away a good twist. (Then again, sometimes the synopsis does as well -- it's a balance trying to figure out what to reveal or not when writing a synopsis.) I usually avoid the comments until after reading, though sometimes I do check them out if I'm on the fence (particularly if the synopsis is not up yet).

mj2001
Reminds me of the scene from "Casablanca" when Captain Renault shuts down Rick's casino because he's "shocked to discover that there is gambling going on." At that moment an employee hands him money and says "your winnings sir" which he then pockets and then continues closing down the club.

"You mean there is gambling happening here, I'm shocked, shocked I tell you." Then he turns to the window and places a bet.

Great movie.

I agree, quality is better than quantity, but I rarely see the latter of those. I get lots of comments but they almost always are encouraging, give ideas och bring up things that could have been made better in the story, which help me when writing the next one. I try to comment on everything that I read and make it meaningful, because I feel that someone put a lot of work on their free unpaid time to give me this, so I should darn well try my best to give something back. It also forces me to give the story I've just read some extra thought and sometimes I discover something that I didn't see the first time.